In the context of Expo 2020 Dubai, the United Arab Emirates launched a research grant program called Expo Live. This grant program supports the growth of social enterprises, start-ups and grassroots projects from around the world. The next round of submissions opens in April 2018.
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region (MEASA). With its central theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future and three subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, Expo 2020 Dubai will convene the global community and inspire people to work together in new ways in order to create a better future.
From October 2020 to April 2021, Expo 2020 Dubai will bring together hundreds of countries, innovators, international organisations, companies, entrepreneurs, NGOs, universities, and millions of people to celebrate human ingenuity. The first mega-event of its kind in the region, Expo 2020 Dubai will provide a unique global platform for presenting novel and innovative solutions with the potential to transform the lives of people around the world.
Expo Live
Expo Live is an innovation and partnership programme launched by Expo 2020 Dubai to fund, accelerate, and promote creative solutions that improve lives while preserving our planet. Expo Live will harness the convening power of a World Expo to demonstrate how innovations coming from all places and people can advance the pace of progress and inspire a more inclusive and prosperous future.
With an allocation of USD 100 million, Expo Live will combine grant programmes, innovation challenges and knowledgesharing events to promote collaboration and to provide technical assistance and exposure to the innovators in the run-up to Expo 2020 Dubai.
The flagship programme
Expo Live’s flagship Innovation Impact Grant Programme will award injection funds up to USD 100,000 to support the growth of social enterprises, startups and grassroots projects from around the world whose solutions generate social value and are in line with Expo 2020 Dubai’s subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
Opening for submissions twice a year, the programme backs enterprises that offer creative solutions to pressing challenges that impact people’s lives, or help preserve the world – or both. The Innovation Impact Grant Programme looks for projects that need support to reach their full potential. This is by providing much-needed funding, business guidance and promotion to both developed and less developed markets. This builds a platform and opportunity for knowledge exchange and co-creation.